FEA announces fiscal sponsorship opportunities for small organizations with Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI)-centered missions
Washington, D.C., July 25, 2022—The Fund for Education Abroad, a scholarship organization providing support to students underrepresented in the U.S. study abroad population, is expanding its services and impact with its fiscal sponsorship of the Baldwin Prize, an essay competition open to students at Baltimore City College High School. Through its first-ever fiscal sponsorship, FEA provides the Baldwin Prize with non-profit status so that the organization can receive donations and support that make student awards possible.
Common to the mission of both organizations is a belief in the power of personal expression. Inspired by the writer James Baldwin, the Prize helps young people use the written word to explore their humanity and their place in the world. The Baldwin Prize essay writers respond to a prompt and receive guidance throughout the writing and revision processes. FEA Scholars post blogs weekly throughout their time abroad as a way to reflect on their experiences. Both organizations also engage many community volunteers to review application submissions.
“Right now, the essay is the endpoint, but it really needs to be the beginning,” said Lionel Foster, founder of the Baldwin Prize. “The Prize must become a series of programs that support events and activities where the essay is the starting point. I am excited to work with the Fund for Education Abroad to build The Baldwin Prize’s infrastructure and fund additional opportunities for its recipients, including study abroad.” The Baldwin Prize recently held its 2022 Awards Ceremony at Baltimore City College, and FEA staff attended along with more than 100 students and guests.
Renowned for advancing JEDI (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion) in education through a variety of collaborative initiatives with public and private leaders, FEA now extends its leadership to the non-profit sector through its new role as a fiscal sponsor, i.e., when an existing 501(c)(3) nonprofit provides its tax-exemption and associated benefits to a charitable project or activity. The benefits of using a fiscal sponsor, as explained by the National Council of Nonprofits, is that it enables a program or organization that does not itself qualify as tax-exempt to attract funding for its operations that will, through the fiscal sponsor, be tax-deductible to donors.
“FEA is thrilled to support the Baldwin Prize and other small organizations focused on making the world a more equitable and inclusive place through their work with students,” said Angie Schaffer, executive director of the Fund for Education Abroad. “By working with the Baldwin Prize, whose founder, Lionel Foster, understands the transformative power of studying abroad, we hope to inspire high school students to believe in the power of their storytelling, and to consider international study as a part of their stories.”
Organizations with JEDI-centered missions interested in learning more about FEA’s fiscal sponsorship services should contact FEA Executive Director Angela Schaffer at [email protected].
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(Pictured L-R) The Baldwin Prize Founder Lionel Foster with 2019 winners Trinity James (2nd place), Samira Jackson (1st place), and Richard Fadipe (3rd place).
About the Fund for Education Abroad
The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population, making life-changing, international experiences accessible to all by supporting minority and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs. FEA Access Partners participate on the FEA Access Advisory Board (AAB), established to share best practices in international education and actively engage in FEA’s mission to increase the number of Americans studying abroad. FEA is a Guidestar Gold participant, and won the 2020 GoAbroad.com Innovation in Diversity Award, 2019 Scholarship Provider of the Year Award from the National Scholarship Providers Association, the 2015 Diversity Abroad Excellence in Diversifying International Education Award and GoAbroad.com’s 2015 Innovation in Philanthropy Award. Follow FEA at www.fundforeducationabroad.org, and on Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr and on Twitter: @FEAScholarships.
About the Baldwin Prize
The Baldwin Prize is an essay competition open to students at Baltimore City College High School. Inspired by the writer James Baldwin, the Prize helps young people use the written word to explore their humanity and their place in the world. New volunteers—from writing coaches to essay judges—are welcome to help move the Prize forward. Information is available at www.thebaldwinprize.org.